Last-Minute Coding Interview Prep: Senior+ Guide

You're a senior engineer. You've built systems, led teams, and shipped products.

But your coding interview is next week, and you're feeling the pressure. Here's your tactical playbook.

Prepared vs. Panicked

Which of these two scenarios are you in?

• Scenario A: You've been grinding and studying for a few weeks or months, and now it's time to polish, not panic. You've Been Grinding (The Smart Path)
• Scenario B: You're in damage-control mode. Your interview is in less than a week, and your interview prep needs triage.

Being honest about your prep time will help you identify the most important skills to sharpen.

Final Week Checklist

Here's what to do in the last few days before your coding interviews.

Review Weak Spots

Don't learn new algorithms. Strengthen what you already know.

• Audit your knowledge gaps: Which topics make you hesitate?
• Re-solve old problems: If you solved it 3 weeks ago, solve it again
• Focus on implementation: Don't just read about heaps - code one

Practice over theory. Build muscle memory, not just understanding.

Get Company Info

Research the company as if you're joining their architecture team:

• Job description deep dive: What technologies do they actually use?
• Glassdoor reconnaissance: Look for recent experiences from other engineers
• Leadership principles: Amazon's 16 principles aren't just fluff
• Engineering blog: How do they think about technical problems?

Mock Interview Bootcamp

Schedule at least 2-3 mock interviews. Treat them like production deployments.

Why mocks matter for seniors:

• Communication under pressure: You need to explain complex thinking clearly
• Architecture discussions: Practice system design components
• Code optimization: Get comfortable optimizing in real-time

One Week Crash Course

You're in the home stretch.

Accept Reality

• Hard truth: One week won't make you interview-ready if you're starting from zero.
• Better move: Ask for a 2-3 week extension. Most companies will accommodate.

Focus on the Basics

If an interview extension isn't possible, get tactical.

Day 1-2: Core Data Structures Blitz

Focus on the foundation, not the fancy stuff:

• Trees & Graphs: 80% of complex problems
• Hash Tables: Your Swiss Army knife
• Arrays & Strings: The basics that trip up seniors
• Recursion: Think in terms of call stacks

Skip: Advanced topics like segment trees or suffix arrays

Day 3-4: Problem-Solving Framework

Memorize your interview algorithm:

1. Clarify requirements (5 minutes)
2. Identify patterns (brute force → optimization)
3. Code with intention (readable, not just working)
4. Test edge cases (empty arrays, single elements)
5. Optimize and explain trade-offs

Day 5-7: Mock Interview Reality Check

Book 2-3 sessions minimum.

Even bad mocks are valuable.

They'll show you where your thinking breaks down under pressure.

Senior Engineer Interview Prep

Keep these things in mind before the interview.

Beyond Algorithmic Thinking

You're not a new grad. Leverage your experience:

• System design mindset: How would this algorithm scale?
• Code quality: Write production-ready code, not hacky solutions
• Trade-off discussions: Space vs. time complexity in real systems
• Testing mentality: Think about edge cases and error handling

Communication

Think aloud like you're leading a technical discussion:

• Explain your approach before coding
• Justify architectural decisions
• Discuss scalability implications
• Address maintainability concerns

Senior Engineer Advantages

Use what makes you different:

• Pattern recognition: You've seen similar problems in production
• Debugging skills: Trace through code systematically
• Design experience: Think about API design and interfaces
• Mentoring ability: Explain complex concepts clearly

Final Tips

Mental Preparation

• Review your greatest hits: Recent project successes
• Practice your story: 2-minute technical overview of your best work
• Sleep schedule: No all-nighters the week before

Technical Logistics

• IDE setup: Practice in their preferred environment
• Whiteboard/shared editor: Get comfortable with non-IDE coding
• Internet backup: Test video call setup thoroughly

Day-Of Protocol

• Morning routine: Code a simple problem to warm up
• Arrive early: 10 minutes for video calls, 15 for on-site
• Bring examples: Real code you're proud of (if allowed)

Bottom Line

If you're prepared, polish your strengths and research the company. You've got this.

If you're not, be honest about the timeline. A delayed interview is better than a failed one.

Remember: You're interviewing them too. Approach it like a technical discussion between peers, not an interrogation.

Your senior experience is an asset. Use it to have conversations, not just solve puzzles.